Adjustable desk



(men s. A. CUMMINGS.

ADJUSTABLE DESK. W v No. 263,866. Patented Sept. 5; 1882.1"

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL A. CUMMINGS, OF MADISON, WISCONSIN.

ADJUSTABLE DESK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 263,866, dated September 5, 1882,

Application filed April 10, 1882. (ModeL) To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL A. CUMMINGS, of Madison, in the county of Dane and State of Wisconsin, have invented a new and Improved Adjustable Desk, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of my invention is to provide a new and improved desk which can be adjusted in height and inclination and on which a person can write very conveniently Without bending forward.

The invention consists in an adjustable desk cpnstructed with a swinging or pivoted writing-board provided at its upper edge with a bolt adapted to be passed into one of a series of apertures in a curved bar attached to an arm projecting from a box resting on the plate to which the writing-board is pivoted. This plate is mounted vertically adjustable on astandard secured to a flat base. The lower edge of the writing-board can be brought very close to the body, and the legs and knees of the writer can be passed under the writing-board, so that the person need not bend forward while reading or writing.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in

which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both the figures.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved desk, showing it inclined to show the under side of the desk. Fig. 2 is a cross-sec tional elevation of the same.

A bottom plate, A, is loosely mounted on a vertical rod or standard, B, and this plate A rests on and is attached to a metal frame or plate, 0, provided with a downwardlyprojecting collar, D, through which the standard 13 passes, which collar D is provided with a setscrew, E, for locking the supporting plate or frame 0 at any desired height on the standard.

A box or frame, F, adapted to receive a drawer, G, in each end, is secured on one side of the top of the plate A, through which box F the standard A passes. p

From the top of the box F an arm or bar, H, projects from the standard, and to the end of this arm a circularly-curved or quadrant bar, J, is attached, the lower end of this bar being attached to the bottom of the front of the box G. This curved bar is provided with a series of apertures, a.

A swinging desk-leaf or writing-board, K, is pivoted at or near the middle of the under side to the edge of that side of the plate A opposite the one on which the box G rests. This swinging writing-boardis provided at its upper edge with a sliding bolt, L, adapted to be passed into the apertures a. This bolt is preferably provided with a finger, b, projecting from the upper surface of the writing-board and moving in a slot, d, of the same.

The lamp supporting arm M, formed of a series of hinged or pivoted sections, is mounted on the upper end of the standard B.

The bottom of the standard B is secured on a flat base-plate, N, made of metal, gradually increasing in thickness toward the bottom of the standard'B and shaped so that the feet of the writer will not strike against the edges of this base, for which purpose the base has a part out out or a recess formed in one edge of this base, by which also less metal is required and warping in casting is avoided.

The operation is as follows: The pivoted board K may beinclined more or less, as may be desired, and can be locked in the desired position by means of the locking-bolt L, which is passed into one of the apertures c. The desk may be adjusted higher or lower on the standard, and can be locked in the desired position by means of the set-screw E. As the swinging writing-board K is pivoted at or near its middle to the edge of the bottom plate, A, the knees and legs of the writer can be passed under the lower edge of the writing-board without striking against drawers or supports, but, on the contrary, the space below the writingboard is free to permit of a movement of the legs, thereby preventing tiring of the same by continually holding them in the same position. The lower edge of the writingboard can thus be brought very close to the body and the writer need not to bend forward. This is a matter of great importance, especially to nearsighted persons. The writer need not rise to adjust theinclination of the writing-board, but can do so while sitting at the desk.

This desk is also very well adapted to be used as a book-support.

Having thus fully described my invention, v

what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1.. In a desk, the combination, with the plate A, of the pivoted Writing-board K, the bolt L, and the curved bar J, provided with apertures a, substantially as herein shown and described, and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a desk,the combination,with the plate A, of the writing-board K, pivoted at or near its middle to the plate A, the bolt L at the upper edge of the plate K, and the curved bar J, provided with apertures 11, substantially as herein shown and described, and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a desk,thecombination,with the plate A,of the writing-board K, pivoted to one edge of the plate A, the curved bar J, provided with apertures a,and the bolt L, provided 'with a finger, b, projecting from the upper surface of the writing-board through a slot, d, substantially as herein shown and described, and for the purpose set forth.

4. In a desk,the combination, with the plate 2,0 A, mounted "ertically adjustableon a standard, B,of the box Rthe pivoted writing-board K, the curved bar J, provided with apertures a, and the bolt L in the writing board K, substantially as herein shown and described, and for the purpose set forth.

SAMUEL A. CUMMINGS.

Witnesses:

A. S. FRANK, G. S. GAY. 

